Illinois: where we love the Caravan and lack fun roads

Illinoisans buy the Dodge Caravan at a greater rate than any other model compared to their nationwide averages.

Illinoisans buy the Dodge Caravan at a greater rate than any other model compared to their nationwide averages.

(HANDOUT)

The most popular car in Illinois, compared to national averages? Dodge Caravan.

The number crunchers are finding some interesting if not troubling patterns for Illinois drivers.

Chicagoland ranks second to last in the country for fun driving roads, according to an unconventional number mashing in the September 2015 issue of Car and Driver.

That should come as no surprise. Most of us are satisfied with a road that is drivable, let alone fun. A lack of potholes or patchwork pave jobs sounds plenty fun to me.

What may be surprising is the second, unrelated study by Road & Track that identifies the most popular car in each state based not on volume but on how much more it is bought in the state compared to the nationwide average.

Illinois residents’ favorite car, according to the numbers?

The Dodge Caravan.

We buy the Dodge Caravan at a greater rate than any other car, compared to the national averages. Nearly three times more, according to vehicle registration numbers pulled by Tom Libby of IHS Automotive.

“It’s census data. It’s not sample based,” so these are hard, irrefutable facts, Libby told Jake Swearengin. Swearengin added that if you’re not happy with your “unofficial state car, blame your neighbors, not the numbers.”

The Dodge Caravan, dear Illinoisans, is a predilection we share with our neighbors to the south, Missouri, and to the north, Wisconsin, who also crave the Caravan more than any other model compared to the national average.

What will happen when Dodge Caravan ceases production at the end of the year as Dodge streamlines its lineup to be more performance oriented? Do not fret, fellow minivan lovers! The Chrysler Town & Country, set for a 2017 model year redesign, will fill in the stow-n-go void.

But we may be bereft yet. Illinoisans second favorite models are also endangered. The Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport, which will cease being built by the Normal, Ill. plant that’ll go up for sale in November, have market shares in Illinois more than twice their national market shares.

I suppose that makes the Outlander our unofficial state car. For now.

It could be worse. We could be Oregon, where the Smart ForTwo is liked more than anywhere else.

“The Roads to Nirvana” is a much more convoluted look at some numbers. To qualify as a fun road, it had to be undivided and have at least one curvy section with a speed limit of 45 mph or more.

Sorry, Lake Shore Drive, at least you’ll always have your looks.

The fun, or challenging road, was based on an algorithm that counts curves on Porsche’s GTS microsite, where people with anti-Caravans rank sporty stretches of roads based on distance, curves, and congestion level.

“The ideal driving city is near challenging roads, has many days of great weather, and suffers from little traffic--the opposite of Chicago,” wrote Michael Karesh.

Who could argue?

Only Miami, Fla., with its lack of, umm, dry land, edged us out as a less fun driving metropolis. California, on the other hand, earns the top four spots for most fun roads, with the San Diego area taking the crown.

Take heart, heartlanders. The Mississippi River routes have some pretty cool roads.

“Nearest route that qualified for Chicago takes US 20 from Stockton to Galena, then Blackjack Road south,” Karesh told us over social media. “The latter appears to be a favorite with bikers.”